15-05-2025
All Systems Go: Bahrain Confirms Full Readiness for Asian Youth Games 2025
The Countdown Is On
At a press conference held yesterday afternoon at The Art Hotel & Resort, top officials from the Bahrain Asian Youth Games Organizing Committee (BAYGOC) and the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) reaffirmed the Kingdom's full readiness to host the 3rd Asian Youth Games (AYG), which will take place from October 22 to 31. The event followed a high-level Technical Delegates meeting on Wednesday, where logistical, technical, and operational plans were thoroughly reviewed and greenlit.
'This is a tournament that usually takes four to five years to prepare,' Faris Al Kooheji told TDT. 'But with the OCA's support and our team's dedication, we've managed to pull it together in record time. Not only are we hosting—we're competing to finish in the Top 5.'
Forging Olympic Futures
Vinod Tiwari, Deputy Director General of the OCA, emphasized the tournament's long-term significance, calling it 'sustainable games for the youth of Asia.'
'This event will give rise to the future champions of the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympics and Los Angeles 2028 Summer Games,' he said. 'It's a springboard for Asia's next generation.'
Record Numbers, Global Reach
The AYG will bring together over 2,000 athletes aged 14–17 from 45 countries, competing across 24 sports and 31 disciplines—from athletics and swimming to judo, boxing, and the debut of Esports, a reflection of the changing landscape of youth engagement.
Yousif Duaij Muhroofi, Chairman of BAYGOC, praised the coordination between teams and readiness across all sectors. 'Preparations are progressing extremely well, and every department is functioning as one unit,' he said.
A Platform That Goes Beyond Sport
Ahmed AbdulGhaffar, Deputy Chair of BAYGOC, captured the spirit of the event: 'This competition is a celebration of potential. The youth of Asia deserve a world-class platform, and Bahrain is proud to be that stage.'
The Bottom Line
